Handcart for milk cans and the like



Sept. 1950 R. E. PUTMAN 2,522,894

HANDCART FOR MILK CANS AND THE LIKE Filed March 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Q Fig. I.

Inventor Roy E. Pufman MWEMW Sept. 19, 1950 R. r-:. PUTMAN 2,522,894

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 32,522,894HANDCART'FOR MILK CANS ANDTHE'LIKE Roy E. Pittman, SprjngfleldJflo. emonMarch 1 7 'Swie No- -3236? 4C1aims. 1

This invention relates to im rovements in hand-carts and moreparticularly to a handcart designed for use in handling milk cans andthe like.

An important object of the present invention is-toiprovide a hand-cartof this character adapted to pickup one or more milk cans and totransport the cans from one place to another.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a'hand-cart of thischaracter including a handle formanipulating the cart in a manner toengage and elevate a milk can or similar container'and to "lower the canupon the ground without the necessity of lifting the can into positionon the cart or removing the can therefrom.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple andpractical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation,relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for thepurposes forwhich the same is :intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to "like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing a can supported in positionon the cart.

Figure 2 is a top plan view with the can "removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a side elevationa1 view showing the cart in position forliftingthe can or for discharging the can from the cart.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on a line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the cart tilted forwardly and supported onthe prop, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the swingablecan supporting yokes.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the inventionthe numeral 5 designates a frame generally which comprises an invertedU-shaped frame member 6 and a second U-shaped frame 1, the legs 8 of theframe member "I being positioned inwardly of the legs 9 of the framemember 6 and in spaced parallel relation with respect thereto. The upperends of the legs 8 are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bightor top portion of the inverted frame member 6.

Rubber tired wheels II] are positioned between the legs 8 and 9 of therespective frame mem- 2 bers and include axles ll which are journalledin plates 12 welded'or otherwise suitably secured to the rear edges ofthe respective legs.

A vertical brace I3 is positioned at the center of the top and bottom ofthe frame members 6 and l with the ends of the brace Welded or otherwisesuitably secured to saidframe members.

Sleeves l4 arerotata-bly supported on the upper horizontal or bightportion of the frame member E at each side of the brace [3, the sleeveshaving arms l -5 welded or otherwise suitably secured adjacent the endsof the sleeves and'extending'downwardlytherefrom and with the lowerendsof the arms welded to the sides of a horizontal yoke IB which hasits ends extended forwardly and curved outward-lyassh'own at H.

A relatively larger yoke I8 is secured in a horizontal position undereach of the yokes l6 by welding'its ends to the center -bracel-3 and toone of the legs-8 of the frame member 1, the closed portion of both ofthe yokes extending rearwardly of said frame members.

A U-shaped handle I9 has its ends 20 bent downwardly and welded totheiupper portion of the legs '8 of the inner frame member I, the handleextending rearwardly of th frame and inclined slightly upwardly when theframe isDO- sitioned perpendicularly as'shown in Figure I.

A U-shaped bracket 2| is secured ina horizontalpositiontothe upperportion of the brace I3 and is provided with a laterally extending pin22 to which the upper end of a prop .23 is, piv tal ly connected. Theprop works between the sides of a U-shaped stop 24 which has its endsWelded or otherwise suitably secured to the brace 13 below the bracket2|. The prop 23 is positioned rearwardly of the frame and-its lower endswings outwardly in a rearward direction from the frame to engage theground when the handle I 9 is tilted downwardly to swing the lower endof the frame forwardly as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings whereby tosupport the cart in an inclined position, when not in use, and with thehandle elevated above the ground.

In the operation of the device and when it is desired to lift a milk can25 or the like onto the cart the handle I9 is tilted upwardly whereby toswing the frame members 6 and l rearwardly as shown in Figure 3 of thedrawings, thus lowering the yoke I 6 into a position for engaging theneck 26 of the can.

The handle [9 is then lowered to the position shown in Figure l whichmoves the wheels I 0 forwardly and thus causes an upward movement of theyoke 16 to lift the can from the ground. The

pivotal suspension of the yoke [6 supports the can in a perpendicularposition while the frames 6 and 1 swing forwardly to position the lowerhorizontal portion of inner frame 1 under the can and to position thelower yoke l8 behind the can to engage the lower portion of the can andto support the can in slightly rearwardly inclined position while thecan is being transported by the cart.

The can is lowered and discharged from the cart by tilting the handle [9upwardly and backing the cart.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the device will be quiteapparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description isaccordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

.. I claim:

1. A two-wheeled cart for containers of the class described andcomprising an upright frame including vertical frame members and anupper horizontal frame member, wheels journalled on said vertical framemembers, upper and lower yokes carried by said frame adapted to receivethe upper and lower portions of a container for supporting the containerin a suspended position on the frame, means swingably supporting theupper yoke on said horizontal frame member in a freely suspendedhorizontal position during tilting of the frame on the wheels and saidlower yoke being rigidly connected in a horizontal position to thevertical frame members, and a handle extending substantiallyhorizontally from the upper portion of said frame.

2. A two-wheeled cart for containers of the class described andcomprising an upright frame including vertical frame members and anupper horizonta frame member, wheels journalled on said vertical framemembers, a sleeve rotatable on the horizontal frame member, an upperyoke supported in a suspended horizontal position from said sleeve, alower horizontal yoke rigidly connected to said vertical frame members,said yokesadapted to receive the upper and lower portions of a containerfor supporting the container in a suspended upright position on theframe, and

a handle extending substantially horizontally 3. A two-wheeled cart forcontainers of th class described and comprising an upright frameincluding vertical frame members and an upper horizontal frame member,wheels journalled on said vertical frame members, a sleeve rotatable onthe horizontal frame member, an upper yoke sup: ported in a suspendedhorizontal position from said sleeve, a lower horizontal yoke rigidlyconnected to said vertical frame members, said yokes adapted to receivethe upper and lower portions of a container for supporting the containerin a suspended upright position on the frame, a handle extendingsubstantially horizontally from the upper portion of the frame andadapted to tilt the frame on the wheels to raise and lower a containerengaged in said yokes, and a prop pivoted to the upper portion of theframe for supporting the frame in a tilted position.

4. A two-wheeled cart for containers of the class described andcomprising an upright frame including vertical frame members and anupper horizontal frame member, wheels journalled on said vertical framemembers, a sleeve rotatable on the horizontal frame member, an upperyokesupported in a suspended horizontal position from said sleeve, a lowerhorizontal yoke rigidly connected to said vertical frame members, saidyokes adapted to receive the upper and lower portions of a container forsupporting the container in a suspended upright position on the frame, ahandle extending substantially horizontally from the upper portion ofthe frame and adapted to tilt the frame on the wheels to raise and lowera container engaged in said yokes, and a prop pivoted to the upperportion of the frame for swinging rearwardly thereof to support theframe in a rearwardly tilted position.

ROY E. PU'IMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 590,436 Marvel et a1. Sept. 21,1897 878,358 Cummings Feb. 4, 1908 900,405 Markham Oct. 6, 1908'1,124,767 Loton Jan. 12, 1915 1,356,672 Turner Oct. 26, 1920 1,787,742Giacomini Jan. 6, 1931 2,081,504 Quick May 25, 1937 2,424,852 Rush et alJuly 29, 1947 2,453,246 Moksnes Nov. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 177,446 Switzerland May 31, 1935

